Come for an Easter Egg Hunt March 28th!

May 8,2012 Interact dinner

 Megan Marcucci- Social Studies

 The Social Studies dept. nominates Megan Marcucci for the Rotary Youth award.

 

Megan consistently performs well in Honors and College prep courses.  She mentors young people at a dance studio after school. She works well with others during group activities in the classroom, often model positive behavior while assuming leadership roles.

 

 Alex Raffone is the Rotary Student of the Month representing the North Branford High School Mathematics' Department. 

 

 

 Alex has taken mathematics courses focusing on algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus and calculus. He is among the highest achieving students in this year's Calculus Honors course.  Over the past four years Alex has grown as a student and North  Branford community member.  Alex's ability to reason logically, think abstractly, and connect conceptual and procedural  knowledge instinctively have made him shine among his peers.

His abilities to break complicated concepts and tasks into manageable units and connect mathematics to other disciplines and students' lives contribute to the success of his class and his peers. Alex also contributes to the NBHS community as  the captain of the NBHS Soccer Team and as a member of both the indoor and outdoor track teams.  Most recently, as a member of the NBHS Indoor Track Team, Alex and his teammates placed 6th regionally and 24th nationally in the 4x400 relay. In addition to all of his academic work and school related extra-curricular activities,  Alex is an active member of his church community and volunteers regularly. Alex intends to use all of his knowledge, skills and experience at Sacred Heart University next year as a computer programming/design major.

L. Todd Wood a helicopter pilot for Seal Team 6 and Delta 4  talked about his experiences during the Afghan war. He also worked on Wall  Street for 18 years selling bonds. His experience helped him write a historical  fiction book called” Currency”.  He talked  about the problems that this massive spending/ debt will cause, for the future  of our country  

On February 27th, the North Branford Rotary club sponsored the NBIS Interact Club and  presented  a charter, gavel, pins and a banner to the club and their members.

At the event, Mary Lou Gargiulo welcomed everyone; AllanDavis spoke about how happy he is to have the new club; Joan Williams andDanielle Ducharme shared the club’s latest fundraiser.

Also present and spoke about Rotary were Alan Hurst, GJustin, Allyson Clark and Paul Burns

Rotary had it's annual tree lighting at Company 2, firehouse

Hannah Hummel is from Dusseldorf, Germany and talked about her experiences since she came to the US two months ago.

She is studying at Yale School of Arts and is advancing her artistic way of thinking. Her host club is the North Branford Rotary Club.  

Mike Bergantino celebrates 39 years in rotary at a November  meeting.

Paul Spiekermann, M.D., talked about malaria and dengue  fever in Indonesia and what Rotary is doing to prevent it.

Dylan Podbieski named student to the month in Science

The club had an induction of a new members at it's 10/31 meeting. It was Susan Diaz and Mukund Nori performed the induction. 

Laurin Gagne receives the clubs student of the month award from Marcella Ardine

Marilyn Lowney talked about the Haitian Health Foundation that her father founded. The foundation feeds, educates, and provides health  care and relief for the poor in Haiti. They help  230,000 people at a yearly cost  of  $4 million dollars. They are able to do this for this amount, because they only have a 9% overhead.

The club had an induction of two new members at it's 9/26th meeting. They were Marcella Ardine and Bill Choti. Paul Burns and Mukund Nori performed the induction. 

Chris Ekert from the UI talked about Strategies to reduce your electricity costs. He also talked about the Energy Efficiency Fund.

Cheryl Smith stated that," The Children’s Center ofHamden”  is Connecticut’s oldest charteredprivate child-caring agency and was founded in 1833 as "The New HavenOrphan Asylum.  The children they servestruggle with serious emotional, behavioral psychological and social problems,such as physical and/or sexual abuse; psychiatric illness; learningdisabilities; substance abuse; and family trauma. On a daily average over 170children and families receive services through at least one of their programs.

 The Children’s Centerof Hamden has a staff of 240, with the majority falling into these categories:child care workers, therapists, and teachers.

 Referrals come from avariety of sources, including the Department of Children and Families (DCF),other social service agencies, psychiatric hospitals, local boards ofeducation, juvenile justice agencies, and parents.

 Their funding comesfrom The Department of Children and Families (DCF), tuition from local schoolsystems, State Medicaid fee for services, State and Federal grants, ManagedCare/Health Insurance and contributions from individuals, business andfoundations.

She stated that they have not had increases in funding forseveral years which has made it difficult to meet the needs of their clients. 

Mukund Nori talked about The Advanced Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (A/RYLA) program. He explained that it is an intensive training program that brings together youth and young adults, ages 14-30,   to  further develop character and leadership skills and learn about Rotary. A/RYLA  often take the form of a seminar, camp, or workshop, generally 3-10 days inlength, organized by Rotarians at the club, district, or multidistrict level. Thebasic RYLS is geared to high school students. Chris Fraenza  talked about his experience with the advance  RYLA (adults out of high school)program. Our club sponsored Chris on a 4 ½  day Advanced RYLA program in Norwalk.

 Hannah  Hummel, Rotary International Ambassadorial  Scholar from Germany, is attending Yale and is being sponsored by the North  Branford Rotary club

 Luisa Breen –Director of Social Services talked about the  needs of North Branford citizens

 North Branford Rotarians enjoyed an evening hosting the Seniors at their annual picnic.

Club member Mukund Nori (right) is seen receiving a pin and a crystal from Club Foundation Chair Dick Aitro (left) for achieving the status of Major Donor, i.e., he has cumulatively donated $10,000 to the Rotary Foundation and its programs. He recognized Mike Bergantino and Ed Pikaart, two other club members who are Major Donors, as his role models and thanked the club for its support.

The first week in November is International Interact Week. This year Rotary International will be celebrating 49 years of Interact. The first club was chartered in 1962 with 23 students at Melbourne High School, in Melbourne, Florida. As of the beginning of the 2011-2012 Rotary Year, our District has 44 clubs and growing. The North Branford Rotary Club sponsored the North Branford High School Interact Club which was chartered in September 2009 with over 80 students.

Rotary International is sponsoring a contest for the best Interact Club video. You can download the application forms from http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/7980/3793/HTML/144257//interact_video_contest_rules_en.pdf.

More information on the Interact program is available at: http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/YouthPrograms/Interact/Pages/ridefault.aspx.

Carol Small (left) and Carrie Ferrigno (second from right) were officially inducted into the club by Assistant Governor Jim Satterwhite (right) on October 26^th. They are seen here with their sponsor, club member Eric Hodgson (second from left), who himself only joined the club at the beginning of this Rotary year. Carol owns and manages Poochie Play a pet care center and Carrie is a Nurse Practitioner. Please introduce yourselves to them.

This has been a banner year for membership growth in the club with 7 new members to date.

Physical Therapist Margie Pikaart was the featured speaker on October 26^th. She gave a brief history of physical therapy and its association with early treatment of patients infected with the polio virus. She spoke about what is involved in physical therapy and how it can benefit a person. She distributed information on correct posture and ergonomic workstations and answered a whole bunch of questions on the educational qualifications and other aspects of her profession. Margie is the wife of club member Ed Pikaart.

Two years ago, Elizabeth Pikaard (left), younger daughter of club member Ed Pikaart, went to Chile as an outbound Youth Exchange Scholar from our Club and District. Many of us will remember that there was a devastating earthquake in Chile during her tenure there. Despite the difficulties, Elizabeth stuck it out and discovered more about herself.

She has kindly provided us with a brief view on her thoughts on Youth Exchange. Please click to read what she wrote in her own words.

On October 5th, the North Branford Rotary Club was proud to recognize Mary Bigelow (left) for her lifelong commitment to ethics in public service. She was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by Club President Bob Hull (center) with Ms. Carol Carson (right), Executive Director of the Office of State Ethics looking on. In making the presentation, Bob mentioned Mary's long time service on the Town Council, her championing for establishing a Code of Ethics for North Branford, and her currently serving as a member of the State Ethics Board.

 Commander Robin Holzhauer had club members spellbound as she gave an overview of the life of a cadet joining the Coast Guard. She went on to provide the club with information on how we as Rotarians could participate in helping ease the life of a cadet and provide some respite from the rigors of training as they learn how to best serve our country through their work in the Coast Guard. She is helping the club liaise with the Coast Guard on some potential volunteer programs. Robin is on deputization from the State Department to the Coast Guard to teach cadets about diplomacy and dealing with encounters with foreign craft in US territorial waters.

She also gave the club an overview of her work as a member of our nation's diplomatic corps and spoke about her service in Russia, Kosovo, and  Venezuela.

Nearly 2 million Ugandans fled from their homes during the brutal civil war that began in the northern region of the country in 1986 and went on for 2 decades.  Human rights violations and war crimes were committed by both sides of the conflict, but especially those crimes perpetrated by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).  As the violence escalated in the northern part of Uganda in 1988, 40 camps for Internally Displaced Persons, “IDP Camps”, were created. Farmers had to move their entire families out of wide-open fertile land into the crowded IDP camps; each family had a mud hut with a few feet between each hut. Children, like George Odora, were abducted and converted into soldiers.

In 2006, the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement was signed between the government and the LRA. Kony fled and his present location is unknown. He is not in Uganda. Before he disappeared, the LRA massacred hundreds of people in unprotected villages and IDP camps throughout northern Uganda. Kony abducted over 80, 000 people, more than half of whom were children whom he converted to child soldiers through brainwashing, and warped traditional and Christian practices to generate extreme terror in the individual and the population. George was one of these child soldiers. The International Criminal Court has indicted Kony for war crimes. 

   George Odora, a 26-year-old Ugandan who made it through the horrors of the civil war, managed to obtain a degree in civil engineering despite huge odds, and decided upon a career of building houses for IDP refugees to build homes on what was their land before the war. George was recently awarded a small grant by a German foundation, enough to construct about 30 houses to begin to   replace the dilapidated IDP camps in the war-torn region where he grew up.  George’s grant from the Dekeyser & Friends Fellowship Program was based on his proposal to establish a sustainable project to build housing for those who are being evicted from destroyed IDP camps 

You can see the presentation give by George at:  http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/7980/3793/HTML/139830//GeorgepresentationintheUSA.pdf

Despite having difficulties of their own, several members of the North Branford Rotary Club responded to the needs of the community after Tropical Storm Irene hit us. Club President Robert Hull, Past President Fran Merola, and Member Bill Choti all helped organize the community shelter set up in the Middle School. They and several people from the community often worked over 12 straight hours to provide help to those less fortunate.

Club member Donna Christensen invited fellow club members who had no power, water, or phone to come to her place to take care of the amenities. She also invited several people who were affected for dinner on Monday. On Tuesday, the Popolizios, both members of the club, extended the same to members still affected.

THANK YOU! 

Dr. Lisa Ford gave us a very educational talk on the Tudors, the styles, the history, and how research can be conducted about a period through examining the art from and about that period.

 Dr. Ford further discussed with us the Order of the Garter and its significance through the ages as depicted in this picture.

 Fran's Food, Fun and Fellowship Fete was wonderful. As you can see, we had a lot of fun, food, and fellowship. We missed all of you who could not be there. It would have been even better with you there.

Thanks Fran, Tracy and Taylor for your kind hospitality! Thanks Fran, Chef Ed, and Dick for cooking and serving up such a wonderful meal! 

For more photos, please go to:  http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/Journals/JournalDetails.aspx?accountid=3793&jid=37609

 Dr. Theodore Andreadis, Chief Entemologist for the State of Connecticut, educated the club about the orignins of West Nile Virus in the US. His spoke about how the virus has spread across the country, the hotspots of infection, and the health hazards faced by the population. He ended his talk informing the club on the precautions we should take to prevent infection and what we can do if we do get infected.

 Dr. Andreadis mentioned that his father was a Rotarian and we encouraged him to consider joining the Cheshire Club (his town of residence). He is pictured here with Past President Hope Looney.

Thanks to all who came to the pancake breakfast despite the deluge. Due to your intrepid support, we were able to raise more than $1000. All proceeds benefit Rotary-sponsored charitable programs.

For more information on our club and its activities, please visit: nbctrotary@yahoo.com 

Pictures of the event can be found at: http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/Journals/JournalDetails.aspx?accountid=3793&jid=37437 

Club President Bob Hull (far right) welcomed its newest member, Dr. Eric Hodgon to the North Branford Rotary Club. Eric is an obstetrician/gynecologist with subspecialty training in perinatology (high risk pregnancy). He is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar and an Attending Physician in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Yale.  He recently moved to Northford from the Foxon area of East Haven and is excited to join the North Branford Rotary Club and to become an active member of the community. Eric was sponsored by Dawn Pearson and inducted by PDG Paul Burns (far left).

Luisa Breen, Director of Social Services for North Branford spoke to the club about the needs of the community in our town. She highlighted the several progams that are available to people. However, many do not avail themselves of these programs due to a lack of information, or misplaced pride. In particular, she spoke about the working poor - people who have serious needs but earn too much to qualify for state or federal assistance programs. She manages a Community Assistance Fund to help those that fall between the cracks. This community program is funded exclusively through private donations - that is no tax dollars.

To learn more about the social services programs or to donate, please visit: http://www.townofnorthbranfordct.com/town_services/social_services.htm.

You can also send your donations to the North Branford Rotary Club, PO Box 993, North Branford, CT 06471 and designate it for this fund.

We are a group of Palestinians and Israelis who have taken an active part in the cycle of violence in our area; the Israelis as soldiers in the IDF and the Palestinians as combatants fighting to free their country, Palestine, from the Israeli occupation.

 On July 14, as a token of apprieciation, the Club sponsored the annual picnic for the senior citizens of the town at Totoket Valley Park on Route 22. Club members cooked up and served hamburgers and hotdogs. Potato salad, cole slaw, and non-alcoholic beverages were also served. Dessert consisted of fresh watermelon and cake. A band that played oldies provided the entertainment.

For more pictures visit the photo journal at: http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/Journals/JournalDetails.aspx?accountid=3793&jid=36539 

DG Rupi visited the Club and spoke to us about his vision for the District and the Clubs. He emphasized that charity begins at home. His project - Rupi's Rovers - is to obtain and donate 4 dogs trained to assist those who have physical limitations. Veterans with disabilities will be given first preference for these dogs.

More pictures of Rupi's visit are available at: http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/Journals/JournalDetails.aspx?accountid=3793&jid=36398

  For more information on this program, please visit http://neads.org/

Rtn. Christopher Ochaloi from the Rotary Club of Soroti Central, Uganda, visited the club on July 13, 2011 and provided an update on the Uganda Clean Water Project which was funded by NBRC together with 3 other Rotary Clubs, RI District 7980, and The Rotary Foundation as a Future Vision Grant.

He also spoke about the need for continuing assistance to a very impoverished area. Read more about Chris ....

More pictures of his visit to the club are at: http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/Journals/JournalDetails.aspx?accountid=3793&jid=36402

More pictures of the Uganda Clean Water Project are at: http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/Journals/JournalDetails.aspx?accountid=3793&jid=35901

Christohper Ochaloi grew up in rural northeastern Uganda in the district of Kaberamaido. He was orphaned as a teen and faced many serious challenges as a boy. He realized the importance of a solid education, and although he thought it was unattainable, he earned a scholarship at the Uganda Christian University in Mukono. He graduated with a degree in divinity in 2006 and became a chaplain and teacher at a school in Kaberamaido.

  Jerry Tilton was inducted into the Club on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, and received his membership pin from Outgoing Club President Hope Looney.

 Tom Tropiano was also inducted into the Club on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, and was sponsored by Club Member Frank Popolizio (right). 

 North Branford High School Senior Alyssa McSherry Arre (right) was recognized for her initiative and drive in establishing the Interact Club at her school and participation in several community service projects.

 She received the award from Outgoing Club President Hope Looney (left) and Assistant District Governor and Club Member Mukund Nori (center).

Incoming Club President Bob Hull was recogninzed for his dedicated service to the town libraries and to the club. He received the award from Outgoing Club President Hope Looney. 

Town Librarian, Bob Hull, was installed as the President of the North Branford Rotary Club for 2011-2012 by Past District Governor Ernestine Louise of the Derby-Shelton Club.

"The youth of every generation has stood in a critical position, for the scales have been tipped one way or the other by the training they received from their elders. This is particularly true today. Our boys and girls have greater freedom, exercise greater power, and have more opportunities for both good and evil, than ever before. How important it is, therefore, that youth’s great possibilities for good be realized and developed!" 

— Angus S. Mitchell, 1948-49 RI president, address to the 1949 convention in New York City

"This is a changing world; we must be prepared to change with it."

Shred It at North Branford Town Hall on April 23rd

On Saturday November 13, 2010

............in 1 Day

........... 2 Girls

..........scheduled 26 houses

..........with 55 volunteers

...........who raked leaves 85 hours

.........and earned over $1,000!

 Visit http://www.wadingforwater.info/ or to donate if you missed the event. 

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

& MAKING THIS EVENT A SUCCESS!

YOUR SUPPORT HELPED MANY

North Branford Rotary

19th Annual Fundraiser

Wine Tasting and Auction

Friday November 12th, 2010

At 6:00PM

Fantasia

Wine Tasting provided by 

 Mt. Carmel Wine and Spirits, Hamden, CT

The Rotary District 7980 chose the GSE Team members, led by Dawn Pearson, Past President Rotary Club of North Branford, to go to Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala in February 2009.

You can read all about their exploits at their blog: http://7980gse2009centralamerica.blogspot.com/ 

RI District 7980 Group Study Exchange led by Linda Bouvier, past president of Milford Rotary, is an all-woman contingent headed for a 4 week trip to District 4150 in Mexico on the Central Pacific Coast.

You can find the whole story with photos on their blog at: http://www.7980gsemexico.blogspot.com/ 

Interact Club and volunteers

Easter Bunny

Get Ready

Kids

Todd Stoeffler, Meghan McCarthy, Zachary Augur and Mary Lou Gargiulo 

Meghan is a empathetic ,diligent and self driven student. Zachary is indeed a role model for his classmates as he models good sportsmanship and citizenship. 

Alpha Coiro from the Branford Rotary club talked about  5 clubs in our district getting involved with the Rotary  Foundation to build 5 wells in Uganda.  Total cost was $41,000.  Participating clubs North Branford, Madison , Guilford, Clinton and Branford.  Two districts 7980 and 9200. 

John Santa talked about the increase in the number of prisoners both in the State of Connecticut and in the United States. He talked about the reasons why the number of people in prison has increased and what the Malta Prison Volunteers organization is doing to try to help people coming  out of prison and stay out of prison.

Cassie DeFelice and Paul Burns

ROTARY CLUB OF NORTH BRANFORD

Please visit www.HelpingtheHomeless.info and learn where you can donate clothing, bedding, used furniture and more. The homeless need your assistance all year long.

Rotarians Dick and Santa say "Happy Holidays to all".

Helping the Homeless 2009 wants to Thank You for your donations!

Thank you to all who donated, if you would still like to donate  an item this Holiday Season to the Columbus House  "Homeless for the Holiday" Project, please v isit www.helpingthehomeless.info  .  There you will find their phone number and web site as well as information about where to bring furniture or other  used items.

Call Diane Popolizio 203-672-2417 for details.

Thank you for our Most Successful event ever!

Click here to see a slide show of the event.

18th Annual Fundraiser

Wine Tasting and Auction

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Thank you to all the people who brought clothing to our North Branford and Guilford drop sites. You have made many less fortunate happy. Please click on this here to see the photos: <a href="http://s423.photobucket.com/albums/pp311/popoliziod/?action=view&current=RotaryscrapbookHtheH08-Scrapblog.pbw

The North Branford Rotary Club sponsored the annual senior picnic in town on July 10, 2008. This year, a record number of seniors attended the event.

"It was a great success" Pam Gery, Director of Recreations.

National Immunization Day - Mumbai, India - January 6, 2008

Millions of children were immunized against polio across the country. Our club President, Mukund, was fortunate to participate at one location in Mumbai.